An outline of proposed research directions and the desirable network configurations, infrastructure and facilities to support research in electroanalytical chemistry and sensor technology

Australia has existing strengths, with regards to sensor development, in surface modification, electrochemical transduction, the synthesis of functional molecules and the development and validation of analytical methods.  The ability to perform rapid analyses in the field, which successful sensing and electroanalytical device development provides, impacts on a number of Australia’s Research Priorities including Priority 1: An Environmentally Sustainable Australia and Priority Goal 1 Water- a critical resource, Priority 2: Promoting a Maintaining Good Health, Priority Goal 3 Preventative healthcare and Priority 4:safeguarding Australia.  These priorities essentially mean Australia needs portable analytical devices for the detection of water contaminants, point of care diagnostics and the rapid detection of pathogens respectively.  Therefore the proposed research goals for sensors and electroanalysis in the ARNAS network are

• Non-invasive monitoring for point-of-care devices:  Of the bodily fluids that can easily be monitored, saliva, sweat and urine we will target the latter

• Detection of metals and other pollutants in the environment.

• Integrating sensors with small separation and clean-up technologies to give potable total analytical systems capable of monitoring complex analytes.

These research goals are compatible with Australia's strengths in electrochemical transducers, where electrochemistry is highly suited for the production of portable analytical devices, environmental analysis of metals and separation technologies. To achieve these goals requires a network with expertise in sensor science, electrochemistry, separation science, the synthesis of functional molecules, biologists, surface modification, chemometrics, environmental scientists and device fabrication and testing. Most of these elements are part of the existing ARNAS application. The infrastructure and facilities required for such research predominantly focus on surface characterisation equipment to verify that the targeted interfacial design has been successfully fabricated. Such characterisation is vital as almost all sensing occurs at an interface. The types of equipment required could include a suite of spectroscopies, atomic force microscopy, electron microscopies and a synchrotron source. Novel chemical recognition and biorecognition events, which occur on the nanoscale, must be understood to enable the development of robust and reliable analytical devices, and this nanochemistry may be studied using state-of-the-art neutron techniques at Australia's world-class replacement reactor at ANSTO.

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